The last month has been a journey getting back to the simple relationship I had with God in the very beginning. When I was 6 years old I went to Sunday School and learned that Jesus had died on the cross so that we could be forgiven for the wrong things we had done and made a way for us to be Christians. When I was on our way home from church, I asked my mom what it meant to be a Christian and she explained to me that it meant that I would follow Jesus for the rest of my life and that He would always be there for me, like my best friend. So I asked her what I had to do, she said that she couldn't do this for me, and that when I was ready I could just tell God how I felt and what I wanted to do. I thought long and hard about what I had learned in Sunday School and what my mother had told me and later on that week I told God that I wanted to follow Him.
My faith was so simple. I trusted Him, I loved Him and I talked to Him all the time. He really did become my best friend. It is amazing how complicated my relationship with God has become since. I keep adding more and more to it and God is reminding me that our relationship can just be simple like it was in the beginning.
For me the first thing I remember feeling was love, so God challenged me with how I am doing in the department of loving Him. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a was a great place for me to check and see how I am doing in the love department.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a says "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." NIV
Am I always patient with God? I would like to think I am patient, however when I look at my journey I can see how impatient I really am. So no, I am not always patient with God.
Am I always kind to God? Once again, when I examine my heart, my answer is that I am not always kind with God. In fact, there are many times I have blamed Him for things, rather than taking responsibility for my own mistakes.
Am I ever envious of God? Do I ever take credit for things that He does? Are there times when I think I know it all, and don't need His input? Are there times I am rude to Him? Do I insist on doing things my way? Am I irritable when I speak to Him? Am I ever resentful when I don't get what I want when I want it? Do I keep track of things I feel like God has failed me in? What do I delight in? Do I always trust God? Do I always have hope in God? Do I ever want to give up in my relationship with God?
Tough questions and to say the least when I am truly honest, I fall short in the area of loving God well. When I realized this I was very embarrassed, but God revealed to me that He doesn't expect me to be perfect at loving Him, however He wants me to grow in my love for Him each day. This means loving Him better than the day before. I am very thankful that God is patient with me, because I need His patience!
The great thing about loving God well, is that it enables us to love others better as well. Remember, God does love perfectly and all we need to do to access His love is to open the door to Him.
My faith was so simple. I trusted Him, I loved Him and I talked to Him all the time. He really did become my best friend. It is amazing how complicated my relationship with God has become since. I keep adding more and more to it and God is reminding me that our relationship can just be simple like it was in the beginning.
For me the first thing I remember feeling was love, so God challenged me with how I am doing in the department of loving Him. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a was a great place for me to check and see how I am doing in the love department.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a says "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." NIV
Am I always patient with God? I would like to think I am patient, however when I look at my journey I can see how impatient I really am. So no, I am not always patient with God.
Am I always kind to God? Once again, when I examine my heart, my answer is that I am not always kind with God. In fact, there are many times I have blamed Him for things, rather than taking responsibility for my own mistakes.
Am I ever envious of God? Do I ever take credit for things that He does? Are there times when I think I know it all, and don't need His input? Are there times I am rude to Him? Do I insist on doing things my way? Am I irritable when I speak to Him? Am I ever resentful when I don't get what I want when I want it? Do I keep track of things I feel like God has failed me in? What do I delight in? Do I always trust God? Do I always have hope in God? Do I ever want to give up in my relationship with God?
Tough questions and to say the least when I am truly honest, I fall short in the area of loving God well. When I realized this I was very embarrassed, but God revealed to me that He doesn't expect me to be perfect at loving Him, however He wants me to grow in my love for Him each day. This means loving Him better than the day before. I am very thankful that God is patient with me, because I need His patience!
The great thing about loving God well, is that it enables us to love others better as well. Remember, God does love perfectly and all we need to do to access His love is to open the door to Him.